Frederick Joseph Forster

Frederick Joseph Forster Jr., 79, of Mount Vernon, OH, passed away Friday, July 11, 2025, at The Laurels of Mount Vernon.

Fred was born December 19th, 1945, in Cleveland, OH to Fred James and Margaret T. {Gedeon} Forster. He married Lynette Rae Bassett on April 30th, 1966.

His passion was numbers and business, especially sales numbers. He owned Glass Gardens Greenhouse and founded Forster Seeds of Quality both in Mount Vernon.

He worked in retail his whole life, starting at eighteen at Buckeye Mart in Mount Vernon, where he learned retail. He worked for many different retailers around Ohio before he returned to Mount Vernon to manage Conley’s Department store for many years making it the most profitable in the whole chain. He earned deep respect and made many friends by being honest, compassionate, intelligent and hardworking. He employed and helped hundreds of people in his lifetime. He often gave a second chance to people from all walks of life. Many former employees remember him as their best employer.

He was the master of all things gardening and always had the answer to any garden question a customer had. In these last years he worked from his home laptop as a volunteer coach, inventory merchandiser, and business consultant literally until the day of his death.

Fred will be deeply missed by his children Shannon Forster, Shane (Robin) Forster, Tish (John) Schachinger, Chad (Nancy) Forster; twelve grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; brothers Albert (Kathy – deceased) Forster, Joseph (Charlotte) Forster; sister Loreen (Dean) Cather and his brother-in-law William Staats.

Fred was preceded in death by his wife, parents and sister Elaine Staats.

Graveside services will be Friday, July 18th at 3:00 at the Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens with Deacon Tim Birie officiating. Online tributes may be made at www.RobertsFuneralHome.com Buy a plant in his honor or make a donation to the American Diabetes Association.